100% agree with that statement.
It is a better Canada with it, than without. For example, let us turn to Mexico for some examples of what a world without Code rules looks like...
Speaking of code rules, when I would purchase the latest edition of the
Canadian Electrical Code I would always get a copy of the
Canadian Electrical Code Handbook which provides a more detailed explanation of the Code rules. I met a number of electricians over the years who didn't even know such a book existed. Worth the money IMO.
For those who take out a homeowners permit you can purchase a "simplified" version which can help get the job done correctly and to help pass inspection:
This book covers electrical wiring in houses. It clearly explains Canadian requirements for inspection so homeowners can safely make their own installations.
psknight.com
I have a recent copy of that simplified book if anyone ever needs to see it.
I realize this is code, and one point that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Really common to have multiple duplex receptacles on a single 15A breaker. Now two people in adjacent bedrooms decide to plug in hairdryers at the same time getting ready for the big party. #14 gets a bit warm, the breaker trips and nothing bad happens, okay they are five minutes late to the party. Now it's a 30A breaker with two receptacles in a workshop; guy decides to run the portable heater at the same time he is welding. I fail to see the difference, or the danger.
The 80% rule also doesn't make a lot of sense to me, #14 can happily flow 15A all day long. Is it ideal no, is it unsafe I would argue no.
BTW 30A through #14 will typically raise the temperature to the 90C rating of the insulation (lots of factors but decent estimate), at 15A it's just barely warm.
It's around expected loading...a 15a circuit around the house is expected to have a lamp, a tv, a phone charger, a clock, a computer, etc. plugged into it. Nothing exceeding 80%. Your hairdryer example is a bad one, those are used typically in bathrooms which will usually only have the 1 plug on the circuit, or on occasion 2 if the electrician was cheap.
The workshop on the other hand, the circuit is completely utilized by a single device...there's no conceivable scenario where you'd plug a device into a 30a circuit and it not use that entire circuit. If it were to use less, say 20a...then it would have be designed to be on a 20a circuit/plug in the first place. With two or more plugs, a person could easily plug in devices that would trip the breaker...the breaker isn't there to prevent person stupidity (to a point), it's there to protect the wiring/plugs.
The code is also there not just to protect you (because you know better, and you wired it), it's there to protect the future owner of the home. They don't know what you did or why you did it or how to use it right, they just expect code compliant behaviour.
Agreed, seems to me that the new arc fault breaker legislation is an expensive solution looking for a problem.
They have created the problem with kicking out for any brush equipped vacuum motor, electric drill, grinder and many more. A plasma torch can induce enough RF to pop them, I'm told
You can't fight the bastards, but after they give you the blessing, you pull the breakers and sell them on Kijiji, and replace with tried and true ordinary breakers. We all have to do that out here.
I prefer to look at data. I tend to agree that some updates are merely money grabs, but arc fault breakers for bedroom circuits (maybe more) are not one of them. At least in my non electrician opinion. Maybe take a look see at this link?
These reports include statistics on home structure fires involving electrical failure or malfunction as well as electrical distribution or lighting equipment.
www.nfpa.org
Arc fault breakers are terrible. In the older code (2015ish and earlier?) it was only required in bedrooms, which could make some sense with beds pushed up against outlets and random things getting plugged in all the time. But requiring it almost everywhere except fridges and sump pumps and kitchens (but not kitchenettes? ffs) is excessive. In finishing my basement I had to use the damn things everywhere and turned the breaker cost from maybe $100-150 into nearly $1000, since the damn things are $100/pop give or take (don't buy them at home depot, they're over $150 there). I was doing some floor grinding yesterday with my big 7" grinder, a diamond wheel, and a shop vac....shop vac on separate circuit, and whether I was in the 15a or 20a plugs I put in down there, the arc faults kept tripping on the grinder...eventually just ran an extension cord from a non-arc fault breaker (central vac plug in the utility room that was "existing"). Kind of defeats the purpose of having them. Permit is closed, so I will likely start swapping them back in key spots where I use things that trip them.
Tamper resistant outlets are another annoyance of mine, the amount of force/wiggle/jiggle you need to get something to plug in, makes them more dangerous than just having a regular old outlet in there. They are code required everywhere now too.
So this is all to say, I like and hate code all at the same time. Some rules (like circuit loading and physical protection) makes perfect sense to me. Others, like the arc fault and tamper resistant plugs are just pure annoyance with little benefit if you use a bit of common sense. In the end though, I almost entirely try to follow the rules (or do better than the rules) because most of it makes actual good sense when you dig into the why.
